A source of information that is not considered reliable by
mainstream academic or journalistic standards but is trusted within a specific subculture, community, or alternative epistemology. Examples include oral traditions, channeled texts, leaked documents with no provenance,
anonymous whistleblowers, or social media influencers. Parasources are often dismissed as “not a real source” in formal debates. However, their users argue that mainstream sources are biased and that parasources provide hidden truths. The term is used critically to call out dubious references: “That’s not a source; it’s a parasource – a
blog with no editorial oversight.” In some contexts, “parasource” is reclaimed by marginalized groups who
reject institutional gatekeeping.
Example: “He cited a Telegram channel as
evidence. She said: ‘That’s a parasource – no author, no verification, no accountability. I can’t accept it.’ He replied: ‘Mainstream
media is also
biased. Parasources are the only way to get uncensored information.’”
